Passion drives Domingo to new heights

It's evident at all times, especially when discussing individual
players, wins and losses, Xs and Os. Emotion drives him, providing
energy in a never-ending quest for perfection on the field.

His fiery, aggressive demeanor is occasionally perceived as
abrasive, but after spending time with Domingo two things become
clear above all else - he loves the beautiful game and he loves
coaching at Orange Glen High.

His relentless passion for the Patriots galvanized the boys
soccer team through a season mired in adversity. He led Orange Glen
to the first soccer CIF San Diego Section title in school history
and inspired an entire community along the way.

Those incredible accomplishments under duress earned tremendous
respect from the soccer community and Boys Coach of the Year honors
from the North County Times.

"This season meant the world for our school, the reputation of
our program and our kids," said Domingo, who teaches AP Spanish at
the school. "Our school has had a tough time with athletics over
the last few years. It was great to see everyone take part in our
success."

Packed stands, vocal fans and championship banners were all part
of Domingo's vision when he came over from Kearny in 2002. He
wanted to take a program full of talented, yet undisciplined
athletes and turn it into a well-oiled, North County powerhouse. It
wasn't always easy and the road to glory wasn't paved in gold, but
Domingo's passion steered Orange Glen in the right direction.

"This was a championship five years in the making," Domingo
said. "It's something you dream about, but it's something that
rarely happens. We all wanted it really bad, and it took hard work
from everyone to accomplish that goal."

Accomplishing that goal took more effort than Domingo could ever
imagine. Not only did his Patriots have to defeat all comers
through a talent-laden Division II playoff bracket, he had to take
on the section office as well.

The CIF office recommended that star midfielder Sergio Castillo
be held out while an eligibility investigation was conducted
regarding his amateur status. The investigation dragged from the
Valley League campaign into the postseason without a verdict,
despite overwhelming evidence that cleared Castillo of
wrongdoing.

But with the season winding down and a championship on the line,
Domingo grew impatient.

Impatience turned to frustration. Frustration eventually turned
to defiance. Domingo, with support from the Orange Glen
administration and the entire Patriots roster, chose to let
Castillo play without a final ruling from the section office.

If Castillo were found ineligible, Orange Glen's subsequent
victories would be null and void.

"I didn't care about that," Domingo said. "I wanted to win it on
the field with my best players. If we did that and won a
championship, there would be nothing anyone could do to take that
accomplishment away."

That move strengthened team chemistry and provided further
motivation for a unit already seeking some overdue recognition. It
validated the administration's confidence in Domingo as well.

"He wasn't intimidated by CIF," Orange Glen athletic director
Kevin Brown said. "He was annoyed more than anything else and he
took offense to anyone who would question his integrity. He's an
intense, passionate person and stood up for what he believed was
right. I think his players fed off of that."

Domingo's players weren't the only ones. Orange Glen's students
got behind the soccer team, showing up in droves during the
postseason. They yelled and screamed and sang during matches. They
celebrated a rare Orange Glen athletic success story as if they
were part of the team.

Domingo's passion for soccer stems back to his childhood in
Mexico City, grew during his playing days at United States
International University in Scripps Ranch and spread throughout the
Orange Glen student body last season.

"He's about as competitive as anyone I've ever met," Brown said.
"He refuses to give up on anything. The kids joke about it
sometimes, but it's all out of respect. But it's not just
competitiveness they respect. They're also driven by how competent
he is."

Domingo may come off as a "rah-rah" guy, but there's truthfully
more to him than that. Just give Domingo a pen and paper and watch
him work. A simple formation turns into a series of diagrams,
explaining minute details and subtle nuances of a playing style
that seemed elementary just minutes before.

But even when talking technical, Domingo's passion still rings
clear. Slashing lines simulate movement and ideal passing is played
out expressly on the page before the conceptual goal is scored.

"I love what I do," Domingo said. "I love soccer and I love
these kids. I wanted nothing more than to win this year, especially
after fighting through so much adversity. Now my goal is to keep
this going and put championship-caliber teams on the field every
single year."